by S. E. Lund
"You could always move in with me.” I kissed her knuckles.
That didn't seem to please her as much as it did me.
She shook her head. "I love my place," she said softly.
"I understand.” I knew that it was too soon to invite her to live with me, but it just slipped out. "Just stay with me at my place tonight. We can stop by your place and pick up a change of clothes if that's what worries you."
She nodded and glanced away. I kicked myself for making the offer but for some reason, the words just flowed so easily off my brain and into my mouth.
Move in with me.
I didn't know why but living with Ella felt natural to me. Like we fit together perfectly.
We drove to her place and she got out and went upstairs while I waited in the car. I didn't want to move too fast with Ella, despite feeling completely certain that I wanted her in my life.
In my bed. Every night.
She was still hesitant, and I understood why. Both of us had been burned by our previous relationships. While I was ready to jump right back in and give it another good try, she was still burned by her experience.
I had to be patient.
Luckily, patience was one of my virtues. I could wait her out. I'd just have to give her the room and time to figure it out for herself.
As I was sitting there, I noticed a man in a doorway in the building next to Ella's. He wore a dark raincoat and a black fedora with a feather in the brim. The hat and that feather made me think about my father, and a wave of nostalgia passed through me.
I wished he were still alive and was here to talk to me when I needed advice about the business or on personal issues. I would have loved if he could meet Ella and know that things were good for me on that front again. I knew he would have liked Ella and found her lovely and charming as I did.
Ella came out with a small overnight bag and jumped back into the car, smiling at me. I took her hand and we drove off back towards Mid-Town, the man in the black fedora forgotten. We parked in the parking garage and walked hand-in-hand to the entrance. The sky was dark, the air was cool, and the crowds on the street had thinned quite a bit.
"Would my lady like a nice horse and carriage ride around Central Park one of these fine nights?" I asked, when I saw one of the carriages drive by.
"That would be fun," she said. "But I hope it's not like the trip that took place on Seinfeld..."
I laughed at that, remembering the episode in question. "I'll make sure that the horse is fed oats and not Beef-O-Reeno."
"It's a deal," she replied.
We went up to my apartment and removed our coats and shoes.
"Would you like a glass of wine or something to drink?" I went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
"I'm good," she said and yawned, stretching her arms over her head. "I have an early day tomorrow. Better not have anything to drink."
I went back to her and pulled her into my arms.
"So do I.” I bent down to kiss her, pressing my body against hers. Just the feel of her soft curves against me made me instantly hard, and I kissed her deeply, impatient to have her in my bed, naked. She responded, her arms tightening around my neck, her kiss just as passionate.
I carried her to my bedroom and we undressed each other, both of us eager to see each other naked, and to enjoy each other as quickly as we could.
The first time was fast for us both and was a blur of mouths and tongues and passion. We lay in each other's arms afterwards, her head on my shoulder, her fingers playing with the hairs on my chest.
"That was so good," she said with a sigh. "I feel spoiled."
"You deserve to be spoiled.” I stroked her shoulder, enjoying the softness of her skin.
She rolled over on top of me and stared down into my eyes. "You're very good," she said softly, kissing me. "You're better than very good."
"You're just a hot little thing that I can't help but be good as a result."
"I can't help but want to devour every inch of you," she said, kissing my chin and jaw. "And there are lots of inches to devour."
I smiled and brushed back her hair from her face. "I'm all yours to devour any time you feel like it."
In fact, just her saying that had me ready again.
She began kissing me all over, moving down from my jaw to my shoulders and chest, over my abs and then lower still. I was hard as rock when she reached my cock and licked me from the base to the head, which she took into her mouth.
That was my last coherent thought for the next half hour.
We slept like logs and were startled awake by the clock radio alarm on the bedside table. I rolled over and shut it off and before I could grab her and kiss her good morning, she snuck out from under the covers and ran to the bathroom. I'd grown used to her attempts to avoid me in the morning, rushing to the bathroom to quickly brush her teeth and have a pee.
I smiled to myself and followed her inside, standing naked beside her, smiling as I caught her eye in the mirror. I grabbed my toothbrush and followed suit, brushing my teeth as well. We had enough time before work for another round, if she was interested. I'd learn soon enough one way or the other.
I turned on the shower and stepped in and then when the water was right, I invited her in.
"Care to join me?" I asked, sighing as the hot water ran over my shoulders and down my body.
She crossed her arms and smiled. "If I do, will I actually get to shower, or did you have something else in mind?"
"Me?" I asked with mock-affront. "Are you impugning my motives, Ms. Carter?"
I grabbed the bar of soap and began to lather my chest, the soap suds sliding down my body. Her eyes traveled over me, lingering over my now-thickening erection. She glanced up and smiled when she caught my eyes.
"I know exactly what your motives are, Mr. Macintyre. They are clearly corrupt."
"Can you at least help a man out and wash my… back?" I said with a grin. I turned my back towards her and waited. She'd complimented me previously on my glutes, so I flexed them.
"You are such a tease," she said and stepped into the shower. She pressed her body against me, her arms slipping around my waist, running up and down my chest and abs. "Let me have that bar of soap."
She took over and began washing me and soon, getting clean was the last thing on our minds.
She kissed me before she left the apartment. On my part, I was dressed and ready for my morning ride around the park, my riding suit on.
"I can't believe you still ride even when there's snow on the ground."
"It's an addiction," I admitted. "I need my daily high from the endorphins to face the day."
"I thought you had enough post-coital endorphins to face the day."
"Them, too," I said with a laugh. "You have time for breakfast so go ahead and stay as long as you want,” I said, grabbing her for another kiss before she closed the door.
"I'm going to the coffee shop across the street. I like their bagels."
"I have bagels," I said, pouting.
"You're going for your ride and besides, I like their coffee. It's one of the perks of my day."
"Okay," I said with reluctance. "When will I see you again?"
"My parents come into town tonight," she said. "I'll probably be out until later. Maybe nine thirty or ten. I'll text you."
"I'm going away on Monday to LA," I said, wanting to spend as much time with her before I went away for a whole week.
"I know," she said and stopped. "We'll spend as much time together as we can before you go."
She kissed me once more and then she was gone.
The apartment felt so much emptier without her presence, but I had to smile to myself. We'd had another great night together.
I finished tying my running shoes and then grabbed my helmet and bike and went for my daily ride around the park.
My day was filled with work, and it was good because it kept my mind off Ella and whether I'd be seeing her that night. We'd been almost
inseparable since the trip to Bali, and it was fine with me. She eased into my life and heart and I felt a sense of contentment that I hadn't felt in a long time. She was different from other women I'd been with since Christie and I split. The other women were like placeholders while I found another woman I could love. I felt it when I was with them.
Ella felt completely different. She was a woman with substance to her. I remembered Marcella's attempts to find partners for me and how none of them could compete with Ella in terms of my attraction to her and my desire to be with her. The chemistry was off the charts, but it was more than that. We shared a love of the written word, an interest in good writing, whether it was the latest book in our catalogue or the editorial page of The Chronicle.
I was tempted during the day to sneak down into Ella's office and surprise her, but I was honestly so busy that each time I thought about it, another call would shatter my plan, or my assistant would bring in another document for me to review. I almost cancelled a call so I could zip down and see Ella, but at the last minute, decided to stick to my guns and not bother her during the day.
She didn't want there to be any gossip about us in the office and I understood that wish completely. People would view her differently, suspecting that she was sucking up to the big boss. Any advancement she made would be seen as due to the relationship. Besides, it just wasn't pleasant to have people talking about you behind your back.
I knew all about that.
I'd spent the last year trying to get over it myself. There had been a great deal of gossip in the office after Christine and I split, with various camps forming -- those who were on her side and those on mine. It wasn't something I'd wish on anyone.
By the time I was ready to leave the office for the night, it was after seven, and I hadn't heard from Ella all day. I was planning on grabbing some takeout and watching the game while I waited for a text from her about whether she was going to come by to spend the night with me when I got a text from Keith.
KEITH: Hey, old man. I haven't had a beer with you for ages. Come down to O'Malley's after work and have a pint.
I smiled to myself. Keith was right -- since Ella and I started seeing each other, I'd missed quite a few drinks with the boys.
JOSH: I'll see you in half an hour.
KEITH: Great! I actually didn't expect you to say yes, but I thought I'd give it a try. We'll be pleased to have you join us.
JOSH: Who's we?
KEITH: Just some people from the office. See you soon.
I put my cell away and went up to my apartment, changing into a more causal pair of jeans, black turtleneck and a black sports jacket. I checked my messages once before I left, but there was still nothing from Ella. I was almost going to send her a text but changed my mind at the last minute.
Nope. She was busy all evening. If we ended up together, it would be great. If not, I'd enjoy myself with staff from the office and watch the game on the TV at O’Malley’s.
Before I went, I got a text from a name I didn't recognize. The name read Kara, and a shock of adrenaline went through me. The only Kara I knew was the wife of a man I'd been in the service with years earlier.
Grant McNeil, a fellow intelligence officer in the Army while I was over in Afghanistan. We'd been great friends during my time in the service, and I had a fling with his little sister, unbeknownst to him.
His wife's name was Kara. They married after he returned from Afghanistan, and I remembered ribbing him about all that married sex he was going to enjoy.
I read the text with trepidation.
KARA: Hi, Joshua, we haven't met but Grant passed away three days ago, and I wanted to let people in his contacts know. The memorial will be held tomorrow in Alabama where he grew up. His parents live in Millbrook, which is just outside Montgomery, and the graveside memorial will be at the local cemetery.
I felt sick as I checked my calendar. I had planned on going to California on Monday, but I could probably change my schedule to go to Montgomery and get a rental car, drive to Millbrook, stop by the memorial to pay my respects. Then, I could fly to LA a little early than I initially planned.
I remembered there was a convention that weekend in LA on print journalism. I could catch the tail end of it on Sunday so it might work out quite well, all things considered.
I checked the airline and changed my tickets. Since Ella's parents were in town for the weekend, I figured she'd be busy enough with them.
A deep sense of gloom filled me at news of Grant’s death. He was so young that I feared the worst. I googled his name and came up with an obituary that only said he had died suddenly and unexpectedly.
That could only mean one thing -- he was one more casualty of war.
I needed a drink.
O'Malley's was one of those classic Irish pubs in downtown Manhattan. The building was narrow, with exposed brick, industrial lighting and a magnificent bar imported from Ireland and set up to mimic the original back home in Dublin. The place was filled with patrons when I arrived, and the music was some version of Irish ballads.
On one side of the bar was a set of dart boards, and on the other were a dozen tables filled with patrons. The bar held a number of stools at which the regulars sat and drank. Keith was at a table near the dartboards, and I saw several other staff from work sitting with him.
Callie from the admin side of things was currently playing darts with Joe, one of the advertising managers. People were laughing and having a good time. They'd all been there for at least an hour before I arrived.
"There you are," Keith said when he saw me. "Come and have a seat." He pulled out one of the chairs and I sat down, glancing around the table, trying to put names to all the faces.
"You know everyone here except Jana," Keith said, naming everyone for me. He stopped at a new woman I'd never seen before and didn't remember hiring. "Jana is a friend from Columbia. We worked on The Review together."
"Ahh," I said and nodded in her direction. "Good to meet you."
The Review was Columbia's journalism student paper. Keith had worked on it before being hired by MBS. I suspected that this was Keith's way of having her audition for a job at The Chronicle. If Keith wanted her, I trusted his judgement.
"I've been wanting to introduce you to Jana," Keith said. "She was the editor of The Review the year after I left."
"Good to know," I said, ordering a scotch when the waitress came by.
Then, for the next fifteen minutes, she told us all about her year working as an intern for a small paper in Massachusetts, where she did her undergrad. While I was initially interested in her experiences, I started to zone out after it appeared she was going to keep telling us the day in and day out mundanities of her life in Washington while she covered some political controversy.
It wasn't that I didn't care about politics. It was that these smaller elections weren't really all that important to my view for The Chronicle. Plus, she seemed to really be pushing her credentials, talking about her connections to people at The Post.
"So, are you hoping to work for The Post when you graduate?"
"Not necessarily," she said and smiled. "I'll be graduating in the spring but I'm already looking. Keith said you're rebuilding The Chronicle from the ground up. That sounds exciting."
I nodded and smiled, although I wasn't sure I felt all that great about her. While I appreciated confidence in people, I also liked to meet people as humans first, and as job applicants when the time was appropriate. She didn't seem to realize that this wasn't a job interview. In other words, she was a bit too forceful too soon for my management style, which was pretty laid-back.
Okay, she was pushy.
I didn't like that in men or women. Ambition was good, but I wanted to be Josh first when I went to a bar for drinks. Not Joshua Macintyre, Jr., CEO of MBS and potential boss.
It was probably Keith's fault. He should have known me well enough to advise her not to hit on me for a job when I first sat down. Maybe she should try to bebe a
human being first and then, later, ask me about whether I had any openings.
Keith knew I was recruiting for The Chronicle. Jana’s lack of tact in a personal situation was a big turn-off for me. Even if she had the best credentials, I'd have to see her perform better in a business setting to ensure she would be of value to the paper before I'd hire her.
So, I put her in the maybe column -- if she showed that she could treat me like a human being. I didn't want to deny someone a position if they were highly qualified and as the editor of the student paper at Columbia, she had skills.
For the next hour, we talked about various things, played darts and watched the game on the big screen TV against the wall. Jana and I played a game of darts, and she was good, a skilled player. While we played, she continued to push herself as a great candidate for The Chronicle.
"You should contact my headhunter and get yourself on her list," I said and told her about Marcella, who was doing all the hiring for my paper.
"Why do we need a headhunter?" she asked, standing beside me with her hands on her hips. "I'm here right now. Let me come in for a job interview. I’ll send you my resume. I'd be a great addition to the paper."
I laughed, amused by her obvious confidence. "She does all my screening. Give her a call. Submit your resume. She might be able to find you a job anywhere you're interested."
She stepped closer and leaned over to me.
"I'm interested in you." She actually raised her eyebrows suggestively.
"Me?" I said in surprise. "I thought you were looking for a job."
"Until then, I'm single," she said and sipped her drink.
I said nothing in reply. Obviously ambitious, she was also obviously hitting me up for more than just a job. Did she think she had to sleep with me to get a job?
That pretty much tanked her application.
I sat down when the game was over and took out my cell, checking to see if Ella had texted me.
She hadn't. So, I texted her.
JOSH: Help! I need to be rescued from extreme boredom...
In a few moments, Ella replied.